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As promised here are some links for study

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The first one is a free Cisco Simulator which I have been messing about with, it is called Netsimk.

Double click on the folder named "CiscoSem2intro" which will give you an introduction how to use the simulator after you download the software.

A short report that I discovered on a web site that may help on what lab gear to buy from ebay:
Whether you're just getting ideas for your Cisco home lab or adding to your existing lab, ebay is a great place to get ideas for your lab as well as pick up some great bargains. Of course, the internet being what it is, there are always going to be a few people looking to take your money while shipping you inferior merchandise, or worse, no merchandise at all. While these "dealers" are in the minority, you still need to be careful when purchasing Cisco equipment on ebay. In this article, I'll give you several tips on browsing ebay ads for home lab ideas, and a few things to look out for when purchasing equipment on ebay.

For those of you just starting your Cisco certification pursuit, the idea of purchasing a home lab kit -- a set of routers, switches, and perhaps some cables and study guides -- seems like a good idea. Instead of putting your lab together one piece at a time, these kits allow you to get a head start on your studies.

One thing to watch out for in these kits is outdated equipment, or the inclusion of outdated study guides. Often, vendors will use these kits as a way to get rid of unwanted inventory.

The Cisco 1900 family of switches falls into this category. A recent search on ebay for "ccna lab" showed seven different CCNA lab kits that contained 1900 switches. The problem here is that the current CCNA exams do not test on the 1900 switches, which are menu-driven and do not have an IOS. You'll need to be well-versed with switches that do have an IOS, such as the 2950s.

The plus side here is that you will probably save money by using 1900 switches. If you're on a tight budget, having a 1900 switch is better than no switch at all. If at all possible, though, get a Cisco switch with an IOS.

The cables and transceivers included with these kits are generally exactly what you need to set up that particular kit, and this can be very helpful to those CCNA candidates who are new to the various cables needed to physically configure a home lab. Just make sure you're not buying a kit with 10 transceivers (used on AUI ports) when you've only got two routers with Ethernet ports.

Watch out for kits that include outdated study guides. I've seen four-year-old CCNA books included with some kits. If you already have your study guides, feel free to ask the vendor how much the kit costs without the books.

That leads me to the most important point. Get to know the vendor before buying anything. Visit their website and check their ebay feedback. If buying from an individual as opposed to a reseller, find out what conditions the router or switch has been kept in, and make sure to define the terms under which they will accept returns. There's nothing wrong with buying equipment from someone who's selling their CCNA/CCNP/CCIE home lab, but just make sure you ask the right questions first. Professional resellers generally have their return policy right in their ebay ad; if they don't, ask for a copy.

Building your own CCNA and/or CCNP home lab is a little intimidating at first, but speaking as someone who has climbed the Cisco certification ladder from the CCNA to the CCIE, I can tell you that it is the best investment you can make in your career. Use a little caution, ask the right question, and soon you'll be leaving the world of "router simulators" behind - and you'll be developing your skills as a true professional should: On real Cisco routers and switches!

Update: How To Subnet In Your Head
CCNAs are expected to be able to understand subnetting - here's how to do the calculations in your head:

If you have an IP address of 195.168.1.18 and subnet mask of 255.255.255.192, and you want to know how many networks you have, what the range of addresses is and the broadcast address for each network, do the following:

Take the 192 (last octet in the subnet mask) and subtract it from 256 resulting in a value of 64. This is the "key" value on which everything revolves.

The first network will be 195.168.1.0, the second will be 195.168.1.64, the third will be 195.168.1.128, and the fourth network will be 195.168.1.192 (note how all we're doing is adding the 64 from the earlier calculation each time). It also means that a subnet of 255.255.255.192 gives you four networks.

Given that information, we now need to determine what the broadcast address is for each network. It's simple: It's the network address of the next network minus 1. So, with our first 195.168.1.0 network, the broadcast is 195.168.1.63. (The second is 195.168.1.127, the third is 195.168.1.191 and the fourth is 195.168.1.255).

All we need to do now is work out what the valid hosts are. That's simple. It's what's between the network address and the broadcast address. So the first network is 195.168.1.1 to 195.168.1.62, the second is 195.168.1.65 to 195.168.1.126, the third is 195.168.1.129 to 195.168.1.190 and the fourth is 195.168.1.193 to 195.168.1.254.

We now have all the information we need to say that the original address (see above) of 195.168.1.18 has a network address of 195.168.1.0, a broadcast address of 195.168.1.63 and is part of a range 195.168.1.1 to 195.168.1.62.

Make sense? That's what happens when you subnet a class C network. Subnetting a class B is pretty similar. If you can follow the above, and learn it, then you'll be away.

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